Molecular Playground/Tamiflu

The World Health Organization and the governments of many countries have collectively stockpiled hundreds of millions of dollars worth of the anti-influenza drug Tamiflu in order to be prepared for an influenza pandemic.

It is lucky that the H1N1 "swine flu" that arose in Mexico in 2009 is treatable by (sensitive to) Tamiflu. Many strains of influenza are no longer treatable with Tamiflu. They have developed mutations that make them resistant to the drug. Notably, the H5N1 avian influenza, a likely source of a future pandemic, is largely resistant. Unfortunately, as human cases of H1N1 flu are treated with Tamiflu, it, too, will likely soon develop drug resistance.



Shown at right (restore initial scene ) is the drug Tamiflu (generic name oseltamivir; some parts not shown ).

For more about this topic, please see Avian Influenza Neuraminidase, Tamiflu and Relenza.

Molecular Playground Animation
 script "/wiki/images/7/79/MP_tamiflu.spt" Play Animation  You may rotate the molecule at any time during the animation.

Methods. The Play Animation button above runs a Jmol command script, which was authored by hand, and uploaded to Proteopedia. You can examine the script at, which calls (see also Molecular Playground/Authoring). The atomic coordinate file (PDB file) displayed above contains chain A from 2hu4.

Additional Resources
For additional information, see: Influenza